THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4624, 12 November 1923, Page 3

THAMES COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The regular monthly meeting of the Thames County Council was held on Thursday last There were present Crs. H. Lowe (chairman), G. H. A. Cribb, R. Cox, F. J. McMahon, W. Brunton, A. Alley, J. McCormick, and the clerk (Mr H. T. G. McElroy). WHAREPOA FERRY. The Hauraki Plains County Council wrote asking the Council to meet it in conference with regard- to the Wharepoa ferry. It was stated that the opening of the Kopu ferry was detrimental to the Wharepoa ferry, and the ferryman at the latter has applied to the Council for a reduction in his rental. It has been suggested that the scale of charges at the Wharepoa ferry should be amended, and the County engineer has reported to the Council that the question of a pontoon will have to be considered. These are the most important matters requiring attention., g The chairman said that he intended inviting the chairman \of the Plains Council and the mayor of Thames to meet him to discuss the Koou ferry. The two conferences could be held on the same day. It was decided that the Council meet the Plains County in conference in the near future. PLUNKET NURSES. The secretary' of the Thames branch of the Royal New Zealand Society for the Health of Women and Children, wrote drawing attention .o the low state of their finances, and asaed the Council for a donation. The chairman said, that the society was doing good work and deservied to be supported, He would refer the matter to the finance committee./ MATATOKI DRAINAGE. Cr. Cox asked if the engineer was prepared to go on with the work of installing the floodgate at the end of Matatoki Road drain. The engineer said that he intended to do this, with regard to the. centre drain the engineer said that he intended widening this drain, as at present it was practically useless. Mr Cribb wanted to know how the work would be paid for. The clerk said that tAe settlers would not give any more money unless th® land was classified, and a fair share contributed by each settler. The chairman urged that a comprehensive scheme be gone into, and a loan raised for the purpose. Cr. Cribb supported this. He saiid that he considered the centre drain was only a relief drain to the road drain and the railway drains. Cr. McCormick said that the Railway Department had not cleared its drains for many years. He moved that the department be asked to clean its drains. The chairman said that the department had built the drains for its own benefit. Cr. McCormick said that the railway line acted as a stop-bank and impeded the natural flow of the water. It was therefore up to the Department to provide outlets. The motion was seconded by Cr. Cribb and carried. REPAIRS TO ROADS. Mr Grinnan was appointed foreman for the bitumen road work. Cr. McCormick asked that a few loads of metal be spread on the Thames-Paeroa road at Kirikiri. — Carried. Cr Cribb said that something must be done to the Puriri-Tairua road as soon as possible, and he moved that the Public Works Departjment be asked to help.—Carried. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling £1416 17s in the County fund, and £lBO 19s 5d on tjie road loan account were passed for payment.